The Accidental Smallholder Forum

Livestock => Poultry & Waterfowl => Topic started by: JFW67 on April 13, 2022, 12:34:52 pm

Title: Skinning instead of Plucking Geese
Post by: JFW67 on April 13, 2022, 12:34:52 pm
Hi All,

I am getting mentally sorted to deal with excess geese.  A few years ago I dispatched, plucked and processed three in a day and have never recovered!  Plucking them was the task that is putting me off, partially in that my thumbs are wearing out so it’s a difficult process given the size of the birds.

Has anyone tried skinning a goose?
I know folk who hunt wild geese skin the breast of the bird and take the breast meat but that is criminal waste to me.  Hence contemplating removing the entire skin (feathers and all).

I’m aware this will loose a certain quantity of the fat in wasting the skin but thats a minor issue.

Any comments welcome.

John
Title: Re: Skinning instead of Plucking Geese
Post by: Fleecewife on April 13, 2022, 12:38:49 pm
Yes we have skinned geese, but you obviously lose the skin for crisping. Just make sure when you cook that you make up for the lack of skin with bacon, greaseproof paper or whatever to keep the meat moist, or casserole it.
My thumbs have gone for plucking, spinning, combing etc so I sympathise. I don't miss weeding though  8)
Title: Re: Skinning instead of Plucking Geese
Post by: JFW67 on April 13, 2022, 01:14:46 pm
Thanks.  Yes, weeding isn’t a joy.  I haven’t used thumbs as an excuse to escape it yet! :thinking:
Title: Re: Skinning instead of Plucking Geese
Post by: macgro7 on April 13, 2022, 03:09:41 pm
I haven't skinned any geese (plucked instead) but I have skinned a lot of chickens and muscovy ducks - ducks (especially muscovy ducks!) Are pain to pluck. So much easier to take the whole skin off a bird.
Title: Re: Skinning instead of Plucking Geese
Post by: eryl on April 13, 2022, 05:35:14 pm
never tried this myself but i was told if you put a dry tea towel over a goose and then run a hot steam iron over it, they are much easier to pluck. Ive done plenty the hard way but had stopped keeping geese when i heard about this ploy but I was assured it works.